Dictionary of Byzantine Catholic Terms
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
~.~~~~- '! 11 GREEK CATHOLIC -reek DICTIONARY atholic • • By 'Ictionary Rev. Basil Shereghy, S.T.D. and f Rev. Vladimir Vancik, S.T.D. ~. J " Pittsburgh Byzantine Diocesan Press by Rev. Basil Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Shereghy, S.T.D. 1951 • Nihil obstat: To Very Rev. John K. Powell Censor. The Most Reverend Daniel Ivancho, D.D. Imprimatur: t Daniel Ivancho, D.D. Titular Bishop of Europus, Apostolic Exarch. Ordinary of the Pittsburgh Exarchate Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania of the Byzantine.•"Slavonic" Rite October 18, 1951 on the occasion of the solemn blessing of the first Byzantine Catholic Seminary in America this DoaRIer is resf1'eCtfUflY .diditateit Copyright 1952 First Printing, March, 1952 Printed by J. S. Paluch Co•• Inc .• Chicago Greek Catholic Dictionary ~ A Ablution-The cleansing of the Because of abuses, the Agape chalice and the fin,ers of the was suppressed in the Fifth cen• PREFACE celebrant at the DiVIne Liturgy tury. after communion in order to re• As an initial attempt to assemble in dictionary form the more move any particles of the Bless• Akathistnik-A Church book con• common words, usages and expressions of the Byzantine Catholic ed Sacrament that may be ad• taining a collection of akathists. Church, this booklet sets forth to explain in a graphic way the termin• hering thereto. The Ablution Akathistos (i.e., hymns)-A Greek ology of Eastern rite and worship. of the Deacon is performed by term designating a service dur• washmg the palm of the right ing which no one is seated. This Across the seas in the natural home setting of the Byzantine• hand, into .••••.hich the Body of service was originally perform• Slavonic Rite, there was no apparent need to explain the whats, whys Jesus Christ was placed by the ed exclusively in honor of and wherefores of rite and custom. In a Western atmosphere, however, priest during communion. the Blessed Mother, celebrating it seems necessary to familiarize Catholics of both rites in the practices Absolution-Forgiveness df sins the Incarnation of the Son of of Eastern Catholicism. In endeavoring to draw special attention to granted by a priest in the sacra• God, the Divine Motherhood ment of penance. and the VirginitY' of Mary Most both the like and unlike customs of the Eastern and Western Churches, Holy. The mam part of this the authors wish to bring about a more mutual understanding between Acolyte-A server or attendant service is a long poem composed sister rites. at solemn services. He may of twelve longer and twelve either be a cleric or layman. shorter stanzas, each ending In the transliteration of Greek and Slavonic terms, the simpler His duties are to carry the can• with a prayer. This Akathistos is plan would have been to leave these words in their native alphabets. dles, cross or ripidion (see-) in one of the most glorious and I Bm the empleymem of these aametimes atreee il:ftd unfamUiaJ' ill- the processi~~~rvethe _~_enserJ. bea\itiful··jewel& _.th& ..~ and in general aSSfStStlle prrest. tine sacred poetry. I phabets would be only a deterrent factor in reading and study. As a The term "Acolyte" which is de• rived from the Greek, refers On the pattern of this original I solution to the problem the authors have transliterated all Greek also to a minor order in the Akathistos, many others were Latin rite and some Eastern composed celebrating mysteries The authors wish to express their special and grateful thanks to the of our faith and glorifying I and Slavonic words into Roman letters. rites. saints. Very Rev. John K. Powell and to the Very Rev. Michael Dudick, who Aer (Gr.. air)-Tbe large veil were kind and willing to read the manuscript and to offer their made of the same material as helpful suggestions. Phelonion, which in the Byzan• Albwhite(Slavlinen••stichar)-Avestment,fulllen~!husuaur tine Liturgy covers the diskos adorned with various embrol• and chalice. The celebrant holds deries. it up before himself while the Alexandria-One of the most im• Creed is recited. portant cities of the ancient Agape-The name given to meals world, and one of the five patri. which were prepared from the archal Sees of Christendom, offerings of the faithful and today a port and business center were taken to the accompani• of modern Egypt. Founded by ment of prayers and songs. Alexander the Great and named Their purpose ",as to express after him, in 331 B.C. It was the unity and fraternal love of the scene of the labor of the the members of the Church. Evangelist St. Mark. Among 7 ALEXANDRINE 8 AMERIKANSKY AMICE 9 ANTIDORON its bishops were St. Athanasius the topmost of which reaches and St. Cyril. Today the Cath• the floor on either side. Sym• now edited by Mr. Michael bim, and Seraphim. These choirs Roman. Contents: Religious ar• form three hierarchies. The ex• olic continuity of the patriarchal bolically they signify the linen ticles and news of fraternal in• See of Alexandria is represented in which the body of Our Lord terest. act number of angels is un• by the coptic ~atriarchate, was wrapped after His death on known but Holy Scripture which has jurisdiction over the the Cross. The use of altar cloths Amice (Slav., Naplechnik)-A indicates that their number is Catholic Copts of Egypt. goes back to the early centuries rectangular cloth made of white very great. of the Church. linen, placed around the neck of Anglican Church (The Church of Alexandrine Rite, The-:-It is only the deacon or priest, covering natural that when Christianity Altar. Side (Slav.. Zhertvennik: his shoulders, and bound by two England)-A term applied to appeared on the scene in such Gr••Proiesis or Proskomidikon) strings under his arms. It is the established church of Eng• land, founded in 1571. The a powerful center of culture and -The side Altar is the table of of western origin, but recently learning as Alexandria, its Rite preparation. Here the priest pre• has been accepted by some Anglican Church in the main was influenced by the environ• pares bread and wine which Catholics of the Eastern Rite. follows the Roman Rite but ment. The Liturgy of Alexan• will be consecrated on the Main uses the English language in dria is known by the name of Altar. Above the Zhertvennik Anaphora (Gr••offering)-A litur• its services. St. Mark, the founder of the there should hang an icon of gical term used in the Eastern church there. This Alexandrine Annunciaiion of The Blessed Vir. Christ, since the Proskomidia Rites to designate that part of gin Mary-This feast, which is type of Liturgy spread through• repeats by words and actions the the Divine Liturgy which in• observed on March 25, was es• out Egypt, Ethiopia and adjoin• sacrifice of Golgotha. cludes the prayer of great tablished to commemorate that ing countries, and has under• thanksgiving, cOnsecration and gone considerable development. Amba-A circular elevation in communion. The Anaphora is of happy occasion when the Arch• front of the royal doors. The Apostolic origin. In the Eastern angel Gabriel brought Mary the Alleluia (Hebrew, "Praise ye the Ambo is used only for the read• Rites there are several Anap• good news from heaven that Lord:')-An exclamation of joy ing of the Gospel and the horas. The Byzantine Rite in God had chosen her as the and praise found in the Psalms preaching of a sermon. - particular uses two. namely, Mother of the Son of God. If and taken over by the Church Besides this Ambo, there was that of St. John Chrysostom it occurs on Good Friday, then in her prayers and services. Its in the early churches another and of St. Basil. the Divine Liturgy is celebrated ambo at the left wall of the on this day. The Feast was in• ~use is =cularly, ....WhiCh prominentis Often church. This latter type is still Anathetna-A solemn ban pro• troduced tn the Fourth Century. called "Period of Alleluja." preserved in the Roman Rite nounced by ecclesiastical au• In the Eastern Church it is one This is in contrast to the usage churches, and is called the pul• thorit~ - usually for heresy• of the major holydays. in the Roman Rite, which ex• pit. In many Typica and church and accompanied by excom• cludes the singing of Alleluja books the solea (see-) is often munication. Antichrist-The great enemy of during Lent. referred to as the Ambo. Christ and His Kingdom em• Andrew of Creie (c. 650.740)• bodying and personifying the Alpha and Omega-The first and Amen (Hebrew. uSo be ii")-This Saint, confessor hymnographer. hatred and wickedness of the last letters of the Greek alpha• words usually marks the end Born at Damascus in Syria. Kingdom of darkness which is bet. The Apocalypse in these of a prayer. It is an expression Archbishop of Gortyna in Crete. to be let loose at the end of the terms describes the infinite ma• of assent to the praises and peti• He was the author of many world. His reign of evil and jesty and eternity of God re• tions contained in prayers and spiritual discourses, but is prin• godlessness after a short period vealed to us in the transcendent hymns. cipally famous as the originator of seeming success and victories dignity of the Son of God, equal of the "Canon," a form of hym• will be destroyed by the second in all to God the Father. II Amerikansky Russky Viesinik"• nology previously unknown glorious coming of Christ. Official publication of the Greek among Byzantine Christians. Altar-A table of sacrifice repre• Catholic Union, a fraternal or• Feast Day, October 17.